Rayleigh's expression turned slightly more serious as he listened, then he chuckled softly.
"No wonder your codename is Shura. So you really are a Shura from hell. Then let me see the strength of you, a Celestial Dragon Admiral."
"Kekekeke…"
Saint Shamrock, still in his Shura form, let out a distorted laugh. His six black blades tore through the air as he launched a relentless assault toward Rayleigh.
Even so, Saint Shamrock was a prodigy among the younger generation of Celestial Dragons. He had risen to become Vice-Captain of the God's Knights at a young age while also serving as an Admiral at Marineford. He possessed not only the swordsmanship of a Great Swordsman but also all three types of Haki. Now, with a Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit, his power had reached an unprecedented level.
Across Amazon Lily, chaos spread rapidly.
The Pacifista units rampaged across the island. Aside from a few strong fighters like Hancock and Luffy, most of the Kuja warriors struggled to keep up. Even though Amazon Lily warriors were trained in Haki, the gap in raw power was too wide to bridge.
BIU, BIU, BIU.
Laser beams tore through the air, explosions erupting across the island as flames spread in every direction.
Meanwhile, five Marine Vice Admirals had already surrounded Boa Hancock.
"Surrender, Boa Hancock," they said coldly.
Hancock sneered. "Do you really think you can capture me?"
She raised her hands, forming a heart shape.
The Vice Admirals immediately reacted, unleashing flying slashes toward her without hesitation.
Hancock clicked her tongue and jumped back as the attacks forced her off balance.
"Slave Arrow."
She unleashed a wave of pink heart shaped projectiles across the battlefield.
The Marines were instantly caught in the attack. Dozens were turned to stone mid movement, their expressions frozen in shock and admiration. However, the five Vice Admirals managed to block it in time.
They had already studied her abilities for years.
The Love Love Fruit ability Love Mellow was a wide range, rule based attack rather than a strength based one. It moved at extreme speed, almost like light itself, and anyone hit by it who felt even the slightest attraction would be turned to stone.
Only strong Haki or absolute willpower could resist it.
However, it had a weakness. It required a short activation delay, and that opening was what the Vice Admirals were exploiting.
Without Love Mellow, her combat effectiveness dropped significantly, since her other petrification techniques could still be resisted with sufficient Haki.
On another part of the battlefield, Luffy was already deep in combat.
After more than half a year of training under Rayleigh, his strength had increased dramatically. He had even developed a powerful technique known as Gear Fourth. However, the recoil was severe, and the current battlefield was too chaotic to risk its use. If the transformation ended at the wrong time, he would lose access to Haki temporarily, which would be fatal in this situation.
"Navy Rear Admiral Namu has been defeated…"
The Marines were stunned.
Luffy's strength was far beyond what they expected from a 400 million Berries criminal. His survival of Marineford alone proved how dangerous he was.
Rear Admiral Feiyi clicked his tongue in frustration.
"Do not underestimate him. He is not an ordinary Supernova. He survived Marineford for a reason. Lieutenant Colonel and above, take him down."
"Yes sir."
Dozens of Marine officers surged forward.
Lieutenant Colonels, Colonels, Commodores, even Rear Admirals closed in all at once.
Luffy clicked his tongue as he wiped blood from his cheek.
"These guys are strong."
He had already knocked back two officers, but the pressure kept increasing. The attacks became faster, sharper, and more coordinated.
Blades cut into him from multiple angles.
"Tch, all of you are strong."
The surrounding Marines shouted.
"Straw Hat, surrender."
"You escaped Marineford, but not today."
"This is where it ends."
Luffy steadied his stance.
"I am not running anymore. I will send all of you flying."
He leapt into the air.
"Gomu Gomu no, Jet Gatling."
His fists blurred as he unleashed a barrage of rapid strikes from above. The sheer density of attacks forced the Marines to defend with everything they had. Several lower ranked officers were sent flying, but the stronger ones held their ground.
The moment his attack ended, Rear Admiral Feiyi barked an order.
"Now. Do not give him breathing room."
The Marines immediately counterattacked.
Luffy was forced back step by step under the pressure of coordinated strikes from elite officers.
Back on the other side of the battlefield, the duel between Rayleigh and Saint Shamrock intensified.
Saint Shamrock had shrunk from his towering Shura form into a more compact humanoid state, likely his hybrid form. Even so, his six black swords moved with terrifying precision, attacking from unpredictable angles.
Six blades meant constant pressure.
Even Rayleigh, with superior Observation Haki and elite swordsmanship, had to stay fully focused.
This is going to be difficult.
Rayleigh understood the situation clearly. His opponent was not only powerful but young. A prolonged battle would favor Saint Shamrock. Rayleigh's stamina was already far below its prime.
And as a Mythical Zoan user, Saint Shamrock's endurance was even more dangerous.
If this dragged on, he would lose.
He exhaled slowly.
Then he coated his blade with Conqueror's Haki.
If Saint Shamrock truly possessed the same regenerative immortality rumored among the God's Knights, then ordinary attacks would not be enough. Rayleigh had witnessed similar enemies during the God Valley era. He knew what was required to break through it.
Saint Shamrock's gaze narrowed.
He could feel it.
Something dangerous was building in Rayleigh's blade.
Rayleigh did not move yet. He was gathering power, compressing his Haki into a single decisive strike.
One chance would decide everything.